Milk-can cover.



W. L. GOATES.

MILK CAN COVER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 4, 1911.

997,180. Patented July 4,1911.

IDLUMBIA PLANOORAPH co., WASHINGTON, D. c.

WALTON LINCOLN COATES, OF SANTA CRUZ, CALIFORNIA.

MILK-CAN COVER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 4, 1911.

Application filed March 4, 1911. Serial No. 612,255.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known. that I, lVAL'roN LINCOLN COATES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Santa Cruz, in the county of Santa Cruz and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Milk-Can Covers, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to receptacles, and more particularly to the class of milk and cream delivery cans.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a can of this character in which air may be admitted to the contents of the can without the admission of insects or foreign matter thereto.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a can cover in which fresh air may be admitted to the contents thereof during transportation of the same, without possibility of insects or foreign matter gaining access to the interior of the can while in transit.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a milk can cover of this character, the same being provided with air inlets adapted to communicate with the atmos phere and the interior of the can, for supplying fresh air to the contents of the latter, the cover being simple of construction, and inexpensive in manufacture.

lVith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a can, showing the cover applied thereto constructed in accordance with the invention, the can and cover being partly broken away. Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is a sectional View on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, 5 designates generally a milk can, a portion only thereof being shown, which is of the ordinary well-known construction, having an outwardly flared mouth flange 6, in which is removably fitted a cover, as will be hereinafter more fully described.

The cover comprises a hollow body 7, including a cylindrical-shaped outwardly tapering side wall 8, corresponding to the tapered mouth flange '6 of the can, so that when the cover is inserted within the mouth of the latter, it will wedge therein to form a fluid tight closure. This cover is constructed from block tin, although it may be made from any other suitable material, and has its top 8 outwardly bulged, while its bottom 9 is concaved. At the marginal edge of the top 8 of the cover is formed a laterally extending annular side flange 10 which prevents the cover 7 from being inserted too far within the mouth piece of the can.

Secured at spaced diametrically opposite points to the top 8, centrally of the cover, is a loop handle 11, which permits the ready and convenient removal of the cover 7 from the can body or its insertion in the mouth thereof.

Formed interiorly of the hollow body of the cover are downwardly converging inlet air tubes or vents 12 and 13, respectively the tube or vent 12 being directed at its inner end centrally of the hollow body 7 and opening through the bottom 9 thereof, while its opposite outer end extends to and opens through the under face of the side flange 10 of the cover. The vent 13 has its inner end directed toward the bottom 9 of the hollow body 7, contiguous to one side thereof and opens through the said bottom 9, while its opposite outer end extends in the direction of and opens through the under face of the side flange 10 formed on the said hollow body 7 of the cover. Thus, it will be seen that by these air inlet tubes or vents 12 and 13, fresh air from the atmosphere will be admitted therethrough to the interior of the can 5, thus establishing a fresh air circulation to the contents of the can 5 during the transportation of the latter, thereby preventing, to a material degree, the deterioration or souring of the contents of the can while in transit.

By reason of the disposition of the outer ends of the air vents 12 and 13, so that they will open through the under face of the laterally extending annular flange 10 of the cover, any amount of water or foreign matter dropping upon the top 8 of the cover will be deflected from the entrance openings of the vents 12 and 13 by the flange 10, thereby preventing the same from entering the can 5. Thus the quality of the contents of the can Will not be affected, or the latter damaged in any manner.

The outer ends of the inlet tubes or vents 12 and 13 are guarded by means of Wire cloth or gauze shields 14, the same being designed to prevent the entrance of insects, dirt or other foreign matter through the tubes 12 and 13 to the interior of the can. Should the air inlets or tubes 12 and 13 become clogged or choked, it is only necessary to clean the same by means of a steam jet in any ordinary manner.

What is claimed is:

l. A cover of the class described, comprising a body having a marginal annular flange Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the near its top, and air inlet vents opening through the bottom and the under face of the flange of the said body.

2. A cover of the class described, comprising a hollow body having a marginal annular flange near its top, air inlet vents opening through the bottom and the under face of the flange of the said body, and foraminous means mounted upon the body across the out-er end of the tube In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

WALTON LINCOLN COATES.

Witnesses:

J. H. MCMILLEN, F. E. RosE.

Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

